Beard grooming device

ABSTRACT

This specification describes a beard grooming device that provides a comb that may be protected with a cover, or a liquid sprayer in a handle attached to the comb, or both. The device allows a user to comb the beard and/or apply an active agent to the beard or other hair.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/636,302, filed Feb. 28, 2018, which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD

This specification relates to a personal grooming or toiletry device useful for grooming hair, for example facial hair such as a beard or moustache.

BACKGROUND

For a person with a beard or moustache, it is useful to have a comb readily available. For example, the comb can be used to tidy the beard before a meeting, or to comb out crumbs after eating in a restaurant. Many small combs can be carried in a pocket. However, since the beard can collect food, and pockets are used to hold many things, it is often undesirable to move a comb between someone's pocket and their face.

INTRODUCTION

This specification describes a beard grooming device that provides a comb that may be protected with a cover, or a liquid sprayer in a handle attached to the comb, or both. The device allows a user to comb the beard, and optionally to remove one or more contaminants from a beard. The contaminant may be, for example, food or smoke.

In some embodiments, the comb may be removable from the handle. For example, the comb may be threaded into a socket of the handle. An optional cover placed over the comb prevents materials from being transferred between the comb and a user's pocket.

In some embodiments, a spray bottle assembly is located within a handle of the comb. Optionally, the handle may include a base, a body and a cap. The base can act as a coupler between the comb and the handle body. The handle body may be removable from the base. The cap prevents accidental activation of the spray when the device is in a user's pocket.

A spray may be applied to the beard separately to apply an active agent, for example a fragrance or a deodorizing agent, or in combination with combing to assist in removing, for example, food sauce or cigar smoke. The spray may include water, optionally with one or more additives such as alcohol or one or more plant extracts.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a coupler, a cover, a handle body and a cap. These elements may be symmetrical bodies of rotation aligned on a common longitudinal axis and threaded together. The device can further comprise a comb attached to the coupler; a spray bottle assembly that can be placed within a plenum defined by the coupler, handle body and cap; or both.

Although the device may be called a beard grooming device herein, this does not limit the use of the device. The device can be used for other facial hair such as a moustache or eyebrows. The device could also be used for hair on the head, or for body hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a beard grooming device, according to an embodiment of the invention and our new design, from in front of and above the beard grooming device, with first and second caps installed;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an isometric exploded view of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1 from above the beard grooming device and showing a comb of the beard grooming device from above and to the left;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1 showing a comb of the beard grooming device from the front;

FIG. 7 is an orthographic projection and isometric view of a comb of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1, also showing our new design for a comb;

FIG. 8 is front view of a sprayer of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1 configured for use as a comb, shown with and without a hand (in stipled lines) that is not part of the beard grooming device but is holding the beard grooming device; and,

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the beard grooming device of FIG. 1 configured for use of the sprayer, shown with and without a hand (in stipled lines) that is not part of the beard grooming device but is holding the beard grooming device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary beard grooming device described herein combines a beard spray and a comb. The spray can be used to disinfect, deodorize and/or fragrance the beard. Alternatively or additionally, the spray can be used to wet the beard to assist in combing the beard to straighten it, or combing contaminants out of the beard. Optionally, the comb may be removable and replaceable, or the device may be provided in the form of a kit with a set of interchangeable combs of varying configuration. A kit may also contain a set of interchangeable spray bottle assemblies with different additives or multiple spray bottle assemblies to be used as they run out. Alternatively or additionally, a spray bottle assembly may be refillable.

The beard grooming device may be made up of a plurality of interconnected pieces. One of the pieces may be a central coupler. The coupler connects to a comb. The coupler may be too small to function as a handle for the comb alone. However, a handle body and cap connected to the coupler form, with the coupler, an adequate handle. The handle can also contain a liquid and a spray pump head, for example in the form of a removable spray pump assembly including a spray pump head and a bottle. A removable cover over the comb can extend the handle when the cap is removed to expose the spray pump head.

Optionally, one or more of the cover, coupler, handle body and cap may be made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. These pieces may be threaded to each other. Alternatively, these pieces may have one or more of a friction fit, snap fit or interference fit between them. The comb and spray pump assembly may be made of plastic.

In some embodiments, the overall form of the device is a small and cylindrical. For example, the device may be lass than 150 mm in length and less 26 mm or less than 20 mm in diameter. The device may therefore fit into a pocket or a sheath in a manner similar to a pen or a small knife.

The device can include a liquid that can be sprayed on the beard. The liquid can be water, or water and alcohol, based. The liquid optionally comprises one or more additives. An additive may be, for example, a disinfectant, a fragrance, a deodorant, or a cleaning agent. In some examples, the additive is a plant extract. The plant extract may be obtained, for example, from steam that is condensed while producing an essential oil; by soaking plant material in water, alcohol or another liquid; a tincture; a tea; an oil infusion; dissolving powdered plant material; or, glycerite.

The Figures show an example of a beard grooming device 10. The device 10 comprises a coupler 12, a comb 14, a cover 16, a handle body 18, a cap 20, and a spray bottle assembly 22. The coupler 12, handle body 18 and cap 20 make up a handle 24. The coupler 12 may alternatively be called a base of the handle 24.

The coupler 12 has a first end and a second end. The comb 14 extends from the first end of the coupler 12. In the example shown, the comb 14 is threaded into a socket 26 of the coupler 12. The cover 16 is removably attached to the first end of the coupler 12. For example, the cover 16 may be threaded onto a fitting 28 of the coupler 12. The cover 16, when attached to the coupler 12, covers the comb 14. A kit may comprise the device 10 with a set of interchangeable combs 14 of different forms.

The handle body 18 is hollow. The handle body 18 can be attached to the coupler 12, for example by being threaded onto a second end of the coupler 12. When attached, the handle body 18 extends from the second end of the coupler 12. The cap 20 can be attached to the handle body 18, for example by being threaded onto the handle body 18. The cap 20, when attached, completes a plenum 30 formed by the coupler 12, the handle body 18 and the cap 20. Part of the coupler 12 may be hollow.

The spray bottle assembly 22 includes a spray pump head 32 and a bottle 34. The spray pump head 32 may be, for example, threaded, snapped or glued on the bottle 34. The spray bottle assembly 22 may be, optionally, disposable or refillable. A kit may comprise the device 10 with a set of spray bottle assemblies 22 having liquids with different additives. When the spray pump head 32 is pressed, a mist or spray of the liquid in the bottle is emitted.

A portion of the spray bottle assembly 22, for example some or all of the spray pump head 32, protrudes from the handle body 18 into the cap 20. The cap 20, when attached to the handle body 18, prevents the spray pump head 32 from being accidentally pressed. Optionally, an abutment (not shown) or other interfering element of the handle body 18 is adapted to retain a portion of the spray bottle assembly 22 in the handle body 18. In this way, the spray bottle assembly 22 does not fall out of the device 10 if the device 10 is inverted without the cap 20 in place. Yet, the spray bottle assembly 22 can still be replaced by separating the handle body 18 from the coupler 12.

Alternatively, the bottle 34 and the handle body 18 may be one integrated piece. In another alternative, the coupler 12 and handle body 18 are one integrated piece. 

We claim:
 1. A grooming device comprising, a coupler, the coupler having a first end and a second end; a comb, the comb extending from the first end of the coupler; a cover, the cover removably attached to the first end of the coupler and covering the comb; a handle body, the handle body being hollow and extending from the second end of the coupler; a cap, the cap removably attached to the handle base; and, a spray bottle assembly within a plenum defined by the coupler, the handle body and the cap.
 2. The grooming device of claim 1 wherein the coupler comprises a socket and the comb is removably attached to the coupler via the socket.
 3. The grooming device of claim 2 wherein the comb is threaded into the socket.
 4. The grooming device of claim 1 wherein the cover screws onto the coupler.
 5. The grooming device of claim 1 wherein the handle body screws onto the coupler.
 6. The grooming device of claim 1 wherein the cap screws onto the handle body.
 7. The grooming device of claim 1 wherein a portion of the spray bottle assembly protrudes from the handle body into the cap.
 8. The grooming device of claim 7 wherein the handle body comprises an abutment adapted to retain a portion of the spray bottle assembly in the handle body.
 9. A grooming device comprising, a handle, wherein the a first end of the handle comprises a fitting; a comb extending from the first end of the handle; and, a cover, the cover removably attached to the fitting and covering the comb.
 10. The grooming device of claim 9 wherein the first end of the handle comprises a socket and the comb is removably attached to the socket.
 11. The grooming device of claim 9 wherein the handle is hollow and the grooming device further comprises a spray bottle assembly, wherein the spray bottle assembly fits within the handle.
 12. A grooming device comprising, a comb; and, a handle, the handle having a first end and a second end, the handle comprising a handle body and cap, wherein, the comb extends from the first end of the handle; the handle body is hollow; and, the cap is removably attached to the handle body at the second end of the handle.
 13. The grooming device of claim 12 further comprising a spray bottle assembly within the handle.
 14. A grooming device comprising, a comb; a spray pump; and, a handle, wherein the comb extends from the handle; and, the spray pump is in communication with a liquid held inside the handle.
 15. The grooming device of claim 14 wherein the liquid is held inside a bottle inside a body portion of the handle.
 16. The grooming device of claim 15 wherein the handle comprises a removable cap adapted to cover the spray pump.
 17. The grooming device of any of claim 14 wherein the liquid comprises water and a plant extract.
 18. The ornamental designs for a beard grooming device and for a comb, substantially as shown and described herein. 